Pickens City Council voted Monday, July 22, 2024 to withdraw from the Pickens Joint Regional Water System (PJRWS), effective immediately. This decision comes after careful consideration and thorough evaluation of the city’s current and future water needs.

“Our primary goal is to ensure that the residents and businesses of Pickens have access to a reliable and sustainable water supply as quickly and efficiently as possible,” Mayor Isaiah Scipio stated. “After extensive study, we have decided withdrawing from the PJRWS is in the best interest of our community. This decision allows us to explore new opportunities and partnerships that can better serve our city’s water requirements far faster than the three to five years required to build a proposed new water plant as part of the regional system.”

The withdrawal from the PJRWS is part of a broader emergency action plan to enhance the city’s water infrastructure and resources in the near term. The City of Pickens is committed to achieving high standards of water quality and availability, and this move will enable greater flexibility and control over local water management. At present, the city’s aging water pipes have created problems leading to discolored water, water main breaks, and other persistent issues.

The city has accelerated work recently to replace the oldest of the city’s pipes and infrastructure and will continue to do so at a rapid pace. The next critical step will be addressing present and future source-water needs by retiring the City Lake reservoir in favor of a supply directly from Lake Keowee. The city intends to make that transition to Lake Keowee-derived water by the end of this calendar year.

City Administrator Tim O’Briant said, “We appreciate the efforts and collaboration of the PJRWS over the years, but that solution has proven too slow and overly costly compared to other immediately available options. Moving forward, we are dedicated to ensuring a smooth transition and accelerating the improvements our residents and businesses need and deserve to warp speed. Our team is already working on a comprehensive plan to address immediate needs and long-term water solutions.”

For residents and businesses, there will be no immediate changes to water services. The City of Pickens will provide regular updates and detailed information as the transition progresses.

City of Pickens

July 22, 2024